Part 1 Marina flew down the street as if on wings, her heart overflowing with joy from unexpected freedom. A spring breeze playfully tousled her hair, and the sun gently touched her skin. She decided to surprise her mother-in-law, Anna Petrovna, and visit her unannounced.
Approaching the old Khrushchev-era building, Marina paused for a moment. The peeling paint on the entrance door made her frown. “Why not repaint it?” she thought, but immediately dismissed the idea, deciding not to judge.
Ascending to the required floor, Marina took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. Silence followed. Then slow shuffling sounds emerged. The anticipation made her heart beat faster.
“Hello, Anna Petrovna!” exclaimed Marina when the door finally opened. “I’m so glad to see you!”
The mother-in-law froze on the threshold, her eyes widening in surprise. She wore an old, faded robe.
“Marina? Is something wrong?” Anna Petrovna’s voice betrayed concern.
“No, no, just decided to drop by. Here, I brought a cake,” Marina handed over the box, hoping to melt the ice.
Anna Petrovna reluctantly stepped aside, allowing her daughter-in-law inside. Entering the dim hallway, Marina noted to herself the need to replace the light bulb.
In the kitchen, another surprise awaited. A young pregnant woman stood by the sink. Upon seeing Marina, she squeaked a frightened “Hello” and quickly disappeared, covering her belly with her hands.
“Who is that?” Marina turned to her mother-in-law, not hiding her surprise.
“Lena, a tenant,” replied Anna Petrovna, avoiding her daughter-in-law’s gaze. “I rented out my son’s room to her.”
Marina remembered how her mother-in-law had kicked her and her husband out upon learning of her pregnancy. Now she was sheltering another pregnant girl? It didn’t make sense.
“Maybe we should invite Lena for tea?” suggested Marina, trying to ease the tension.
“It’s best not to disturb her,” Anna Petrovna snapped back, casting nervous glances toward the living room.
Marina silently cut the cake. Her mother-in-law was clearly nervous, constantly checking the time. It was nothing like their usual meetings.
“I should probably go,” said the guest, finishing her tea. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
The relief on Anna Petrovna’s face was almost palpable as she hurriedly escorted her daughter-in-law to the door, barely hiding her eagerness to close it.
Stepping outside, Marina took a deep breath. The spring air, so fresh just an hour ago, now seemed heavy with unspoken questions and suspicions. Something was definitely wrong, and it had something to do with the mysterious tenant Lena.
Part 2 A couple of days later.
A warm summer evening enveloped the city in a soft golden light. A cheerful group of friends gathered in a cozy café. The clinking of glasses and bursts of laughter filled the room. Marina sat next to her husband Oleg, trying to blend into the general merriment.
“Guys, heard the joke?” exclaimed Vitya, winking conspiratorially. Everyone eagerly turned to him.
When the laughter from another joke subsided, Vitya added unexpectedly:
“By the way, Oleg, I saw you with a pregnant woman.”
Marina giggled.
“Do you have a mistress? And she’s already pregnant?”
Friends laughed, but Marina noticed how Oleg paled. His voice trembled as he began to justify himself:
“I just gave the girl a ride. She lives at her mother’s.”
“Ah, is that Lena?” asked Marina, trying to hide her curiosity. “How long will she stay there?”
“That’s my mother’s problem,” Oleg replied sharply, avoiding his wife’s gaze.
Marina remembered how her mother-in-law had kicked them out when she herself was pregnant.
“Strange, your mother said she can’t stand the sound of children crying,” Marina said quietly.
Oleg just nodded. Marina continued, trying to remain calm:
“Good thing my parents helped. They gave us their three-bedroom apartment.”
“You’re very grateful to them,” Oleg responded mechanically.
“I wish I hadn’t miscarried. I hope someday I can have a child,” Marina thought sadly.
Friends, unaware of the tension between the spouses, continued to joke. Vitya’s wife playfully ran her hand over his head.
“You’re messing up my hair!” he protested.
“No, I’m looking for horns,” she laughed.
Now these jokes seemed cruel and meaningless to Marina. She looked at Oleg, trying to catch any hint of the truth in his eyes.
“Who will you invite to the birthday party at home?” she asked, trying to return to a normal conversation.
“Just my mom,” Oleg replied, not looking at his wife. “We’ll sit with friends at the café. Will your parents come?” he asked, trying to change the subject.
“Of course, my mother-in-law won’t miss such a day.”
Friends laughed again. Marina watched the merry company and felt infinitely lonely. The evening continued, filled with laughter and jokes.
Part 3 A few days later in Marina’s small cozy apartment, decorated with balloons and garlands, guests filled the room. The table, laden with various dishes, gathered the family.
The birthday boy, Oleg, sat at the head of the table, his strong arms encircling his wife’s frail figure.
The mother-in-law sat to the right of her son. Her piercing gaze occasionally rested on her daughter-in-law. Marina’s parents took seats across.
“To the birthday boy!” proclaimed Marina’s father, raising a glass.
Everyone clinked glasses. Wine flowed like a river, laughter and animated conversations filled the room. Marina skillfully managed the dishes, clearing empty plates.
“Daughter, how’s your treatment going?” her mother inquired.
The hostess shrugged uncertainly:
“It’s hard to say anything specific yet.”
Her mother’s gaze lingered on her daughter’s blouse:
“You’ve got a wine stain. Change, dear.”
Nodding, the brunette headed to the bedroom. Without turning on the light, she approached the window. Fresh air pleasantly cooled her heated face.
Suddenly, muffled voices from the balcony reached her ears. Marina froze, listening. Her husband and mother-in-law were talking.
“What do you intend to do with this girl?” Anna Petrovna asked.
“Mom, let’s not now,” Oleg replied irritably.
“In a month, your Lena will give birth. We need to decide something.”
Marina’s breath caught. Her hands trembled, and a lump formed in her throat. Legs felt like jelly. Barely reaching the wardrobe, she began frantically changing clothes.
Returning to the living room, the woman smiled tensely. Her paleness did not escape her mother’s attentive gaze.
“What’s wrong with you, daughter? You’re all white.”
“My head hurts,” Marina lied.
The evening dragged on painfully. Finally, the guests began to gather to leave. After seeing everyone off, Oleg began cleaning up the dishes.
And his wife, as if in a trance, headed to the bedroom. Taking out a large bag, she began furiously stuffing her husband’s clothes into it.
“What’s going on?” Oleg asked in surprise as he entered.
“Packing your stuff,” she gritted through her teeth. “So you can go to your whore. She needs you more.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?!” the man protested.
“Shut up, liar!” Marina exploded. “I heard everything! And your mom is covering for you!”
She threw the bag at her husband:
“Get out! Come back for the rest later.”
Stunned, Oleg tried to say something, but the enraged woman pushed him out the door.
“Don’t let your feet be seen here again!” she shouted after him.
Part 4 Nausea hit her throat suddenly, like a blow to the gut. Marina rushed to the bathroom, just managing to slam the door behind her. Cold tiles burned her bare feet, and the dim light painted everything around in painful yellowish tones. Strength left her, and the woman sank to the floor, convulsing from sobs.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, leaving salty tracks on her skin. Marina felt as if pain and resentment were tearing her apart from the inside, like sharp shards of a broken heart.
Thoughts tangled in her head like a ball of knotted threads. Her husband’s face, once loved and familiar, now became repulsive and foreign. Each feature of his face, each wrinkle she had once so tenderly kissed, now only provoked disgust and bitterness.
Time seemed to stand still in that small bathroom. Marina spent almost an hour there, enduring her pain and resentment. Finally, she found the strength to get up. With trembling hands, she washed her face with cold water and looked in the mirror.
There, a haggard woman with a swollen face and red eyes looked back. She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and straightened up.
“Enough crying!” she said firmly to her reflection. “Time to act.”
The next morning, Marina headed to the registry office. Bright sun blinded her eyes, but she squinted stubbornly, unwilling to hide behind dark glasses. Let everyone see her face, let them know she is not broken.
She resolutely pushed the heavy door of the registry office. The corridor was crowded, buzzing with conversations and laughter. Marina felt a sting in her heart – once, she too had been a happy bride here.
“I need to file for divorce,” she told the clerk at the counter.
The woman indifferently handed her a form, not even looking up. For her, it was just routine, another broken family in a long line of similar stories. Marina quickly filled out the paper, trying not to think about putting an end to her marriage.
“Sign here,” the woman at the counter said, pointing to the required line.
Marina paused for a moment, looking at the empty field. Then she boldly signed her name. It was done.
Stepping outside, she felt a strange relief. As if a heavy burden had fallen from her shoulders. The phone in her purse vibrated – another call from her husband. She turned off the sound, not wanting to hear his voice.
At home, Marina made tea, sat in an armchair, and turned on the TV. Familiar actions helped her cope with the storm of emotions inside. At that moment, the doorbell rang. She tensed, hearing a familiar voice.
“Marina, open up! We need to talk!” Oleg yelled from behind the door.
She approached but did not open the door. Her heart pounded wildly, but her voice sounded firm:
“Go away. I’ve filed for divorce.”
“Are you crazy! I won’t give you a divorce!” the man shouted angrily. Panic tinged his voice.
“We’ll see about that,” Marina snorted and moved away from the door.
Oleg continued to knock and swear for a long time. His voice alternated between yelling and pleading. Finally, he left, leaving behind an oppressive silence.
Several weeks passed. The divorce wasn’t granted the first time – she had to file a lawsuit. On that day, Marina wore a strict suit, as if donning armor.
She entered the courtroom with her head held high. Oleg was already there – disheveled, with dark circles under his eyes. He gave her a pleading look, but Marina didn’t even turn her head toward him.
The judge, a middle-aged woman, carefully examined the documents. Silence reigned in the room.
“So, citizen Oleg Chazov requests time for reconciliation,” she said, looking up at Marina. “Do you agree?”
Marina shook her head:
“No, your honor. My husband has a mistress.”
She paused. A momentary silence fell in the room. Oleg paled and lowered his eyes.
“She is pregnant and lives with his mother,” Marina added.
The judge raised her eyebrows in surprise. She looked at Oleg:
“Is this true?”
He blushed and lowered his eyes. Then reluctantly nodded, unable to utter a word.
“In that case, the marriage is dissolved,” the judge declared, and the sound of the gavel echoed in the room.
They left the courtroom. Oleg looked gloomier than a cloud, his shoulders drooping. Marina, on the other hand, felt a surge of strength and energy.
“Congratulations, it seems you got a promotion at work,” she suddenly said, surprised at her own composure. “You’ll be earning twice as much now.”
“Yes, but you won’t get anything,” he replied snidely, trying to save face.
Marina smiled mysteriously. She placed her hands on her stomach, and at that moment, Oleg froze. Only now did he notice his ex-wife’s rounded belly.
“Expect news from me,” Marina winked and cheerfully walked away.
Oleg stood with his mouth open. It began to dawn on him, and panic overwhelmed him.
“Hey, wait!” he shouted after her. “Are you pregnant?”
But Marina had already disappeared around the corner. She felt light-hearted, as if she had shed the heavy shackles of the past. She stepped outside, and the bright sun blinded her eyes. Squinting, Marina smiled – a new life full of hopes and opportunities awaited her. And she was ready to meet it with an open heart, leaving behind pain and betrayal